F.Y.I. about H.I.M. Dakota State University

Students Participate in AHIMA Student Resources
The DSU Health Information Management students were invited to edit the American Health Information Management Association’s student electronic newsletter for the March/April issue. A number of articles were written by the students for the newsletter which is available on the Student Community of Practice (CoP) website www.ahima.org/marketing/MARAPR07_SC.htm, and the DSU students also moderated two scheduled chat sessions on the CoP held during April. One chat session was focused on the topics of privacy and security and the second chat session focused on student career plans and preparation.

HIM Programs Undergo Reviews
In February, 2007 the Health Information Technology (HIT) and Health Information Adminstration (HIA) degree programs submitted their Annual Program Assessment Reports (APAR) to the accrediting organization, Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education CAHIIM). The APAR documents data regarding graduate and employer satisfaction, placement data, progress toward goals, and other indicators of program quality. The Healthcare Coding Certificate program also collects information regarding progress toward goals. All of this information is reviewed by the faculty and advisory board of the HIM Programs for feedback and input for future planning.

The SD Board of Regents requires that all programs undergo an external review on a periodic basis, and that review was completed in the Spring of 2007 for the HIT, HIA, and coding certificate programs as well. A self-study document was prepared and reviewed by a professional in the field, who also made a site visit. A. H. Lenne Klopfer, MS, RHIA from Connecticut was in South Dakota in April to meet with campus faculty, staff, and students. In order to provide additional input to the reviewer, she was provided a DSU email account, access to all WebCT HIM distance course sites, and a session connecting her to the University Center site in Sioux Falls. She presented a very positive report of findings at the conclusion of her visit.

Congratulations to HIM Program Faculty and Staff!
We were very pleased to celebrate longevity recognition this year for Rose Goeden and Joyce Havlik for 10 years of service to DSU as instructors in the HIM Programs and for Jeri Daniels for 25 years of clerical service! We thank them for all their hard work over the years and look forward to their continued time with us!

We also congratulate Joyce Havlik on her promotion to Assistant Professor! She joined the faculty of DSU as an instructor in 1997, and this promotion recognizes her outstanding efforts in the areas of teaching, advising, scholarship and service to the university and discipline.

Faculty Share Career Information with Students
During the Spring Semester HIM faculty were very pleased to have the opportunity to share career information with area high school students. The Madison High School health occupations class visited the campus where they learned more about the courses in our curriculum and the varied career choices for our graduates. Many other students from Sioux Falls and surrounding area high schools were invited to attend the Career Expo held in Sioux Falls. At the Expo, HIM faculty members challenged the students to a medical terminology game and told them more about what to expect from health information management educational programs and jobs in the field.

Best Wishes to Graduates!
There are 6 HIT, 6 HIA, and 1 coding certificate students completing their educational experience in the HIM Programs in the Spring or Summer 2007 sessions. We wish them all the best. Congratulations!

SDEHRA Project
Work on the South Dakota Electronic Health Record Assessment (SDEHRA) project continued through the Spring semester with data collection through focus group meetings in four locations across the state and surveys of consumers, providers and payers. The project, designed to assess electronic health record (EHR) use and the status of health information exchange (HIE) within South Dakota, will provide information to help develop a roadmap for the future initiatives in those areas.

There will be a formal presentation of the project’s final report at the Health Information Technology Summit to be held August 23, 2007 in Sioux Falls, SD. In addition, the summit will have state, regional, and national speakers on the topic of health IT.

Kevin DeWald, Department of Health Compliance Office and SDEHRA Project Leader, and Dorine Bennett, DSU HIM Program Director and SDEHRA Team Leader, have also been invited to present information about the SDEHRA project at the Fall South Dakota Health Information Management Association convention in Sioux Falls in September.

Healthcare Workforce Summit
Dorine Bennett, HIM Program Director, will be participating in the Healthcare Workforce Summit “Preparing for the Challenge” to be held in the state’s capitol city this Summer. This event, co-sponsored by the SD Departments of Education, Health, and Labor with the SD Board of Regents, will look at healthcare workforce issues. Bennett has served on a state-wide healthcare workforce initiative action team charged with making recommendations for strategies that will be the focus of this summit. For more information, visit www.ruralhealthevents.sd.gov

HIM Students Meet
The HIM faculty members held meetings this Spring on the DSU campus in Madison and at the University Center in Sioux Falls with current students in the HIM Programs. Students were invited to share their comments, concerns, and suggestions, as well as use the time to get to know each other better. The HIM Club sponsored pizza and door prizes for those attending.

HIM Student Named Lowry Scholar
Rebecca Moore, a senior HIA student, was selected as a Lowry Scholar for the College of Business and Information Systems. This award honors a student who has demonstrated high academic achievement and scholarly involvement in a major program of study. This award is named for past DSU president, V.A. Lowry, who encouraged excellence in the educational environment. Students are nominated by the faculty from within their college.

HIM Students Travel
A number of HIM students traveled to state health information management association meetings to learn more about the continuing education offerings for professional development and networking opportunities for those in the field. The meetings were very interesting and informative.

HIM students in the Sioux Falls, SD area participated in tours at two facilities in April. They visited the offices of Dakotacare, a managed care network, and the Sanford Childrens Clinic where they learned more about health information management in those settings.

First Tuesdays Event
On the first Tuesday of each month , DSU hosts a gettogether” for alumni, students, faculty, staff and other supporters at Shenangan’s Pub in Sioux Falls, SD. In February, the HIM Programs designated that “First Tuesdays” event as a HIM reunion, and encouraged HIM graduates to attend along with faculty and staff from the HIM Programs. It was a very good evening and we’ll plan another one in the future!

MSIS Classes Offered
Joyce Havlik, MSIS, RHIA will be teaching INFS 742 Healthcare Information Infrastructure in the Summer of 2007 and INFS 744 Healthcare Information Analysis in the Fall of 2007. Both of these courses are required in the Healthcare Information Systems specialization in the Master of Science in Information Systems degree program.

HIM Student Excels in Track
Nikki Duffy earned her way into competition at the NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Tennessee in March. While there, she ran in the 60 meter dash and the 200 meter dash and set a new DSU school record in the 200 meter dash. Nikki also competed in the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in California in May. Nikki won 9th place in the 100 meter dash finals and was a member of the 4 x 100 relay team that set a new DSU school record. Way to go!

Reviews for Publishers
Dorine Bennett accepted invitations from two publishers of educational materials to review and provide feedback about products in development. She reviewed a number of chapters from an introductory healthcare coding textbook and a study guide for a virtual medical office software. These reviews help to ensure that the publishers are providing educational resources that will be useful to academic settings.

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